Parents take to the streets in Driekoppies

Shell casings found at the scene of the shooting at Middleplaas. (Photo: Dex Sibiya.)

Dex Sibiya

Innocent learner allegedly shot by councilor

Residents from Middleplaas in Nkomazi near Driekoppies recently barricaded the main road into the community with burning tyres, stones and tree logs. Parents are believed to be unhappy with the unsafe and unhygienic state of toilets their children were forced to endure at Mpumelelo Primary School.

“We can’t be paying for school fees yet our children are experiencing this. Children fall sick from time to time and as a parent you keep asking yourself what is the cause of all this sickness until you see the state of these toilets”, said an angry mother of a learner from the school. “We are paying for school fees so why can’t they take care of basic things at schools? All the other things such as stationery and text books we understand but this is too much,” she added.

A day before the strike the parents had shut the school down by burning tyres at the school gates and sending children back home.
Now, parents alongside residents have joined the strike and are demanding a brand new school from the government.

Learner shot by councilor during altercation

It is alleged by a reliable source that a Nkomazi Local Councillor from Ward 31 in the community fired three live shots from his firearm after demanding to speak to the community. One of the bullets reportedly hit a 16-year old Gr. 9 learner from Camalaza Secondary School. Information has it that the child was hospitalised at Shongwe hospital.

During the upheaval, traffic had to use alternative routes to access their work places whilst public transport was not able to reach the area.

WEATHER

If you want to receive the Mpumalanga NewsHorn via email, enter your email address below. Subscription is free and you can cancel anytime via email.

ABOUT US

Mission Statement ---
For the Community, By the Community is our motto and we endeavour to continue to grow this winning publication to serve our communities, empower and inform and further branching out across social media, leaving a footprint which others will follow.